Method and apparatus for accurately proportioning foundry sand ingredients



Nov. 28, 1967 R E. KAWECKI 3,355,154

METHOD AND APPARA'I US FOR ACGURATELY PROPORTIONING FOUNDRY SAND INGREDIENTS Filed Feb. 11, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

INVENT OR Ralph E. Kaweck/ UMM ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1967 R. E. KAWECKI 3,355,154

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCURATELY PROPORTIONING FOUNDRY SAND INGREDIENTS Filed Feb. 11, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

INVENTOR Ralph E. Kawec/rz' ATTORNEY 3,355,154 NING 7 R. E. KAWECKI METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCURATELY PROPORTIO FOUNDRY SAND INGREDIENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 11, 1966 INVENTOR Ralph E. Kaweck/ ATTORNEY United States Patent Conn., assignor to Inc., a corporation of This invention relates to a method and apparatus for accurately measuring predetermined amounts of a liquid acid and a liquid binder, blending the measured amount of acid into a predetermined amount of sand for a predetermined period of time, then blending the measured amount of binder into already blended acid and sand for a predetermined period of time, whereby the molding sand mixture thus produced Will have the right scratch hardness. The acid usually used is phosphoric acid, while the binder is usually a resin furfural binder, both well known in the art.

This invention dispenses the liquid chemicals in a preset amount in quantity and time. Men blending these chemicals manually have a tendency to add unnecessarily to the mixture. This invention proportions the chemicals in a very accurate amount, thus saving on materials and producing a much more desirable foundry sand mixture.

All the features of this invention operate on the principal of gravity, which has no wearing tendencies and thus is very economical.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus-which'will accurately measure or proportion the desired amounts of acid and binder, which, in one form of this invention, may then be manually manipulated to first blend the acid into a predetermined amount of sand, then after a predetermined amount of time, may be manually manipulated for blending the binder into the blended sand and acid for a predetermined period of time to thus produce the'molding sand mixture of the proper desired characteristics, and in another form, includes automatic controls for manipulating the discharge of theacid into the sand, blending the sand and acid for the preset time, then discharging the binder into the mixed sand and acid and blending the binder, acid and sand for-a preset time to produce the desired molding sand mixture with the desired characteristics, the sand, acid and binder being discharged into the blending muller under the force of gravity.

In brief, this invention utilizes a conventional muller, a sand supply source mounted above the mullet to feed or discharge a predetermined amount of sand therein under gravity, a separate acid supply container'and binder supply container each mounted above the muller, measuring tanks for the acid and the binder each mounted above the muller and below the supply tanks so that the ingredients may flow from the upper supply containers down to the measuring tanks and then down into the m'uller by gravity. In oneform, valves between the containers and the tanks and between the tanks and the mullet are manually controlled at preset times; in another form, these valves are linked to controls for automatic operation atpreset times, the controls including pneumatic means for opening andclosing the valve solenoids for actuating the pneumatic means and timers for operating the solenoids at preset times in a preset sequence.

The superiority of this invention over others is in its simplicity of design, its comparatively low cost of construction, its accuracy in dispensing, its consistency and its low upkeep. All components are standard models readily available on the market, and it avoids Waste of resin, acid or sand, and it saves space, with the parts above and grouped around the muller.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprises in combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, claimed and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the automatically operated form of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation, partly section, view of one measuring tank and the controls therefor.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of measuring tank.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a manually controlled measuring tank.

In the drawing, like reference numerals refer to like parts, and for purposes of explication, marshalled here below are reference numerals used in describing the method and apparatus for accurately proportioning foundry sand ingredients:

Ill-muller 12-sand supply container 14-sand chute 16-cutolf valve on 14 18-support of table for 20 and 22 20-phosph0ric acid container 22resin furfural binder container 24acid measuring tank 26-binder measuring tank 28-plastic hose from 20 30-plastic hose from 22 32manual cutoff valve in 28 and 30 34quick closing valve in 28 36quick closing valve in 30 37brass pipes, 34 to 24 and 36 to 26 38vent pipes 40vent pipe supporting cylinder 42vent pipe terminals above 20 and 22 44-drain tubes in 24 and 26 46-brass pipe bottom of 24 48brass pipe bottom of 26 50-quick closing valve bottom of 46 52quick closing valve bottom of 48 54plastic hose 50 to 10 56plastic hose 52 to 10 58-upper valve control lever 60-lower valve control lever 62'connecting link 34 to 50 64-connecting link 36 to-52 66-hand operating lever FIG. 5 68pivot of 66 70support arm for 68, 72-connecting rod to 62 or 64 74pivot clamp for 72 on 62 or 64 76pneumatic cylinder 78-piston 80 pressure line 82pressure line 84-solenoid valves 86-control box 88floor 90pivot for cylinder 78 on 18 92-pressure supply pipe 94-pressure gauge and shut off valve 96electric receptacle 98fuse box 100electric line 98 to 102 mil-transformer 104timers 106multicompartment measuring tank 70 108-small size compartment 110-m iddle size compartment 112-large size compartment 114-nipple 116entrance pipe to 108 118entrance pipe to 110 120entrance pipe to 112 122exit pipe from 108 l24exit pipe from 110 126exit pipe from 112 There is shown at a conventional sand muller such as is readily available on the market, above which is supported a sand supply container 12 from the bottom end of which a chute 14 extends down into the open top of the muller 10 to feed or discharge sand under gravity from the sand container 12 into the muller 10, a conventional cutoff valve 16 being provided in the chute 14 for manual manipulation to limit the feed of the sand to a predetermined amount.

Located substantially above the muller 10 on a suitable support or table 18 are a container 20 for phosphoric acid and a second container 22 for resin furfural binder, both acid and binder being liquids which flow readily, both containers being preferably of stainless steel, or of other corrosion resistant material.

Mounted on the side of the support or table 18, and below the containers 20 and 22 and above the muller 10 are an acid measuring tank 24 and a binder measuring tank 26, each preferably of stainless steel. Leading from each container 20 and 22 to its measuring tank 24 and 26 are a plastic hose 28 and 30, each hose having a stainless steel manual shut-off valve 32. Each hose 28 and 30 leads to a quick closing stainless steel valve 34 and 36 (known in the trade as Kennedy valves) each mounted on brass pipes 37 leading into the tops of the measuring tanks 24 and 26. At its top, each tank 24 and 26 is provided with a vent pipe 38 extending into a supporting pipe 40 on the top of support or table 18 and terminating at 42 above the tops of the supply containers 20 and 22 to prevent syphoning action, and to permit gravity flow from the containers to the measuring tanks. At its bottom, each measuring tank is provided with valve controlled drain taps 44. i

A brass pipe 46 and 48 depends from the bottom of each tank 24 and 26 and terminates in a quick closing valve 50 and 52 identical with those at 34 and 36, and a plastic hose 54 and 56 leads down from each valve 50 and 52 into the top of the muller 10. The valve control levers 58 of each upper quick closing valve 34 and 36 is pivotally linked to the valve control levers 60 of each lower quick closing valve 50 and 52 by a linking rod 62 and 64 so that when an upper valve is open, the bottom valve is maintained in closed position, and vice versa, and when the top valve is closed, the bottom valve is opened. The dot-dash lines and arrows show the extreme position and direction of movement.

The description thus far equally applies to the form of the invention shown in FIGS; 1 and 2 and that shown in FIG. 5, although only one measuring tank 24 is shown in FIG. 5, and the same reference numbers have therefore been used in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5 a hand operated lever 66 pivoted at 68 to a support arm 70' from measuring tank 24, is pivotally linked by a connecting lever 72 pivotally clamped at 74 to the connecting rod 62 for opening or closing the upper valve 34 while simultaneously closing or opening the lower valve 50.

In the form of FIGS. 1 and 2, the pivotal clamp 74 on levers 62 and 64 have their connecting rods 72 extend into pneumatic cylinders 76 which are secured to pistons 78 which are actuatable in either direction by'air pressure from pressure lines 80 and 82 leading from solenoid valves 84 mounted on a control box 86 on the floor 88 which also supports the muller 10. Each pneumatic cylinder is pivotally supported at 90 on the table or support 18. Solenoid valve 84 controls the inlet of air pressure to line 80 and 82 from a suitable air pressure supply in pipe 92 leading through a pressure gauge and shutoff valve 94 and exhaust to the atmosphere after use. An electric power line (not shown), from a suitable power source, is plugged into receptacle 96 through a fuse box 98 and by line 100 to a transformer 102, to timers 104, and to the solenoid valves 84.

Instead of a single compartment measuring tank, as at 24 and 26, a multicompartmcnt measuring tank 106 may be used as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, here shown as having three different size compartments 108, 110, 112, connected from inlet pipe 37 to discharge pipe 48 by a nipple 114 to individual entrance pipes 116, 118 and 120, one to each compartment and exit pipes 122, 124 and 126, each having its own cutoff valve 128. By obvious proper manipulation of the valves 122, 124 and 126, any one or more of the compartments 108, and 112 may be used according to the amount of liquid that is desired,

Although only two liquid supply containers and measuring tanks are herein shown, one or more additional containers and tanks and associated control parts may be added as needed, if additional ingredients are desired. Formulae as to the amount of each ingredient in proportion to the amount of sand and the time of mixing each subsequent ingredient into the same are well known in the art for use according to the particular foundry sand mix desired, and therefore need not be set forth herein. With a particular formula, the exact proportioning thereof can be accurately carried out, either with the manual control form shown in FIG. 5, using a clock or stop Watch for timing, or the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with its automatic timing.

In operation, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the individual timers 104 are each preset according to the particular formula, and set to operate, after the muller 10 has first been filled with the proper amount of sand from tank 12 through chute 14 and manually controlled shutoff valve 14. Link lever 62, for the acid tank 20, will first be actuated by its timer 104 to open the previously filled measuring tank 24 for the acid to flow by gravity therefrom through opened valve 50 and pipe 54 into muller 10, which has been previously set into operation. After a preset time, sufficient to discharge the measured amount therein, it will close valve 50 and open valve 34, so as to refill the tank 24 for the next cycle. Then, at the preset time determined by its timer 104, the linking rod 64 will be actuated by its pneumatic cylinder 76 to open its valve 52 from the prefilled tank 26, and close inlet valve 36 to discharge the binder therefrom into the mixed sand and acid in the muller 10, and then close valve 52 and open valve 36, to refill the tank 26 for the next cycle; and then the muller is allowed to operate for the preset time, according to the formula, until the mixture has reached the desired condition for use. According to the formula used, both as to quantities and as to timing, the mixture may be ready to set immediately, or in a desired period of time thereafter, according to the use for which it is intended.

In the form in FIG. 5, the hand lever 66 is manually manipulated, using a clock or stop watch for timing, and the liquids will still feed in by gravity. This form, while still relying on the human element, is still far more accurate than the present completely manual operation, although possibly not as accurate as the more expensive apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

While this device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in details and construction may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for mulling foundry sand comprising in combination, a muller, a sand supply tank supported above said muller, a sand chute extending down from said sand supply tank to said muller, a sand cutoff valve in said chute, foundry sand liquid ingredient supply tank means supported above said muller, a liquid measuring tank means between said liquid supply tank means and said measuring tank means, a first gravity feed pipe means from said liquid supply tank means to the top of said measuring tank means and a second gravity feed pipe means from the bottom of said measuring tank means to said muller, a liquid cutoff valve means in each said first and second gravity feed pipe means, means linking said liquid cutoff valve means with one means open and one means closed for simultaneous operation of said valve means to open either one while closing the other one.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, and vent means extending from said liquid measuring means to above said liquid supply tank means.

3. The mulling apparatus combination of claim 1, said foundry sand liquid ingredient tank means and associated liquid measuring tank means and pipe feed means and cutoff valve means and valve linking means comprising a foundry sand acid supply tank and a separate foundry sand liquid binder supply tank, and separate gravity feed pipes and cutoff valves and valve linking means from each said supply tank to separate measuring tanks and then to said muller.

4. The mulling apparatus combination of claim 3, and separate pneumatic means for actuating each said valve actuating linking means, separate solenoid valve control means on each said separate pneumatic means connecting said pneumatic means to a pneumatic supply source, and timer means connected to each solenoid valve control means for opening and closing said supply valves at preset times.

5. The mulling apparatus combination of claim 1, said liquid measuring tank means comprising a multicompartmeat tank, branch supply pipes connecting from said first gravity feed pipe below its linked valve means to each separate compartment in said multicompartment measuring tank and branch supply pipes below said measuring tank connecting each acid measuring compartment to said second gravity feed pipe above its linked valve means, and manually controllable cutolf valves in each said latter branch supply pipe.

6. The mulling apparatus combination of claim 1, and manually operable lever means connected to said valve linking means for operation thereof.

7. In a method of mulling foundry sand, the steps of discharging a measured amount of sand into a muller, gravity feeding a measured amount of acid into the sand in the muller, mulling the sand and acid for a preset time, then gravity feeding a measured amount of binder into the mulled mixed sand and acid, and then mulling the sand, acid and binder for a time preset in accordance with the amounts of sand, acid and binder therein to blend the sand, acid and binder into foundry sand having desired characteristics.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,549,603 4/1951 Horth.

2,945,684 7/ 1960 Soldini.

3,136,009 6/1964 Dietert et a1 259149 3,137,412 6/1964 Buhrer et al.

3,184,112 5/1965 Loeser.

3,230,589 1/1966 Mcllvaine 259149 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner. 

7. IN A METHOD OF MULLING FOUNDRY SAND, THE STEPS OF DISCHARGING A MEASURED AMOUNT OF SAND INTO A MULLER, GRAVITY FEEDING A MEASURED AMOUNT OF ACID INTO THE SAND IN THE MULLER, MULLING THE SAND AND ACID FOR A PRESET TIMETHEN GRAVITY FEEDING A MEASURED AMOUNT OF BINDER INTO THE MULLED MIXED SAND AND ACID, AND THEN MULLING THE SAND, ACID AND BINDER FOR A TIME PRESET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMOUNTS OF SAND, ACID AND BINDER THEREIN TO BLEND THE SAND, ACID AND BINDER INTO FOUNDRY SAND HAVING DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS. 